True patriot love

Great essay by Stephan Brunt. A must see.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/columnists/bruntscorner/newsid=52870.html#new+patriot+love

Vancouver 2010

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic flame will only burn for a few more hours. As I write this Canada and the US are facing off in hockey for the final medals of the Games.

The last 2 weeks have been unbelievable and unforgettable. The week that I spent in Vancouver is something I will never forget. Witnessing Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win a gold medal was simply incredible. Seeing athletes that I've known for years compete at the Games never gets old.

The athletic competition always gets me and there were a ton of memorable moments.

The most memorable and inspiring part of the games for me is the new attitude that we seem to have as Canadians. I have never seen so much Canada clothing, red and white, or maple leafs in my life. The only thing that I can compare the atmosphere in Vancouver with is the 2002 Canadian Gold medal hockey win. Every night. It was unbelievable. People shouting out "Go Canada!" randomly on the streets. Canadian pride is finally on display. All I can say is it is about time. I really hope that we don't lose this feeling. I hope it isn't some thing that gets extinguished with the flame. I hope this is a enduring legacy of these Games. Canada, lets keep our swagger. We are simply the best country in the world. The coolest country. We can still be the polite Canadians. We can say "Excuse me" as we blast by some one, in athletics or in anything else. This is a kick ass country and it is time we believe it.

I want to thank the people of Vancouver who have done such an excellent job of hosting the world. You are a credit to this county. You welcomed the rest of the country and the world and did a simply amazing job. I don't think anyone that wasn't in Vancouver will ever know how great it was. Disney crowds times 100 24 hours a day. Thank you.

In the days to come I will post my Games Journal. My plan to blog the Games was derailed by a lack of wifi. I will also post a list of what I've learned from my trip to these Games. I hope to get back one day to the Games but I don't think anything will top these Games. When Canada once again host a Games you can count on me being there. No way I would miss it.

I think the athlete of the Games from all counties was Joannie Rochette. To continue to compete after losing her mother is inspiring and unbelievable. I will never know where she found the strength.

"Anyone can give up, its the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else in would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."

To Canadian politicans and corporate world keep on funding sport in Canada. You have just seen its value. We must not forget this feeling and contiune to support our athletes. Own the podium did its job for these Games but there is more work to do. I don't think Canadians will be statisfied with anything less. We have scene what can be done when we support our Olympians.

Canada keep believing.

My Olympics

Well my Olympics start tomorrow. My journey will start with a 8am flight and then proceed to the RV park and then picking up my tickets.

I don't know if I'm bring the right clothes but I have my tickets and can purchase anything else.

Pairs Results

Well I had all the medalists but had the Silver and Bronze medals reversed.

Shen and Zhao were outstanding with the exception of the collapsed lift. Persistance pays off. Pang and Tong won the free skate and the Silver.

Savchenko and Szokowy's Achilles Heel was indeed the free.

Lots of mistakes and a case of "I don't want it you have it".

Lets hope that the evil ice is gone by tonight's men's short.

2010 Olympic Figure Skating Competition

(Not posted previously due to computer error)

Pairs

The Germans, the Russians, the Chinese and a dark horse team of Canadians.

The German team of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szokowy have a good chance of adding the Olympic title to their tow World Championships. Even therough the russiaon team of Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov beat them at Europeans I still like their blend of artistry and technical skill. Their "Achilles Heel" is their free skate. They will need a clkean program to come out on top.

There are 3 powere hous Chinese teams that hope to sweep the podium. The wild card team of the event is Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao. If they can come baclk as strong as when they left they will be a team to contend. The question is whether or not they are battle ready. The two time Olympic bronze medalists bring a wealth of experience and are the sentimental favorites. I think Qing Pang and Jian Tong have a better shot at the podium then the Zhang's who have not had a good year.

My heart hopes that the Canadian team of Jessica Dube and Bryce Davidson will be in the mix. Their freeskate reminds me of Sale and Pelletier's "Love Story". They will need to land their side by side jumbs and nail their vastly improved triple twist. To put themselves on the podium they will need a bit of magic.

Gold: Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, China,
Silver: Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szokowy, Germany
Bronze: Qing Pang and Jian Tong, China

Men

Next up on the Olympic program is the Men's event. The list of contenders for the podium keeps expanding but no matter how it pains me to say this, Evgeni Plushenko is once again the one to beat. It looks, unfortunately, to be his gold to lose.

Hoping to capitalize on any olf the big man's mistakes will be a growing list of skaters who may once agin be competing for the second and third spots on the Podium. Evan Lyschack will try to dispel the world champions curse and rotate his quad and triple axel. Brian Jourbert is a paler imitation of Plushenko, all jums and no spins or footwork. Returning former World Championship Stephane Lambiel will try to tame his 3 axel and recapture his former competitive form. Americans Abbott and Wier as well as the Japanese will also factor in.

Patrick Chan of Canada will try to prove that with excellent component scores and fabulous spins and footwork that you can compete without a quad. He will need to skate a clean program and pull the audiance in to put him over the top. Will competing at home be an asset or hindrance?

Gold: Evgeni Plushenko, Russia
Silver: Patrick Chan, Canada
Bronze: Evan Lyschachek, USA

Dance

This could be the year of the North American Ice Dancers.

Canada's Tess virtue and Scott Moir and America teams Meyril Davis and Charlie White and Tanith Belbin and Benjamin agasto are or are former training teammates and should be the ones to beat. There should be 3 NA teams on the podium baring any figure skating shenanigans.

From Europe Delobel and Shonfelder anr returning from a year off of competition and from becoming parents. The Olympics will be their first competition back.

The Russian European Champions generated controversy on the road to narrowly winning the European Championships. Will a compulsory dance win a gold medal?

Gold: Tessa Virtue and Scott Virtue, Canada
Silver: Meyril Davis and Charlie White, USA
Bronze: Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agasto, USA

Ladies

One name: Una Kim. This is her competition to lose. The Queen of ladies figures skating can put up marks that many men would be jealous of. She's the total package and should win if she can manage the pressure of being the reat medal hpe of her country.

Mao Asada will need to find her former self to be able to compete. She will need to be clean and rotate her jumps if she hopes to stand a chance.

Joanni Rochette will try to prove that a Lady can compete in Ladies figure skating. Clean skating and managing her nerves may mean a medal.

Miki Ando will also be in the mix. The constancy of American Rachel Flatt mean that she shouldn't be completely ruled out. Strange things happen at the Olympics.

Gold: Una Kim, South Korea
Silver: Mao Asada, Japan
Bronze: Joannie Rochette, Canada

2 week Countdown Begins

Two weeks from last Friday the 2010 Winter Games will open. Medals will be being awarded. In two weeks time the Pairs competition will already begun. 2 weeks from now I will be getting ready for my trip to the Games.

Since the Games were awarded to Vancouver I’ve been planning this trip. Its cost me a fortune but this is a trip of a life time.

I’m going to try to blog and journal everything but we’ll see how it goes.

Vancouver Olympics

The days to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics are now quickly counting down. There are just 78 days until the Opening ceremonies and 83 days until I get there.

The torch run is making its way across Canada and then back. Hopefully as it stops in towns and cities it will start to bring the Olympic Spirt with it. Is it just me or was there more anticipation ahead of the 1988 Games? Shouldn't there be a greater felling of excitement? I'm starting to think we've become a nation of party poopers and navel gazers. Come on people its our party we need to actually start to have fun with this. For those who are against the Games I say "Shut Up and Sit Down". You've had your say. The Games are coming whether you like it or not. You don't have to join the party just don't ruin it for the rest of us.

I've been looking forward to this trip since Vancouver won the bid on July 2, 2003.

I've book my tickets, rented an RV for accomodations and have booked airfare.

All I need to do now is wait for the tickets to arrive, try to get more figure skating tickets,and pack.